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Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs)

DILG Memorandum Circular No, 2020-018 was issued on January 31, 2020 to enjoin all local government units to effectively intensify information education campaign against Coronavirus and implement programs, projects and services that will promote the health and well-being of every Filipino.

This is pursuant to Section 15, Article 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Section 16, the General Welfare Clause, of the Local Government Code, local government units are charged with the promotion of health and safety within their jurisdictions. As such they are to take lead in the prevention and control of coronavirus at the local level.

Also as response to the outbreak of, and the declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) that, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, is now a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and that the Philippines is already one of several countries with a confirmed nCov ARD case, Unless properly addressed, the situation may create a negative impact on public health and personal safety, business productivity, tourism, the mobility of the citizens, and even death. Moreover, the lack of information, misinformation or the mal-information being spread about this coronavirus engenders paranoia where a person under investigation of coronavirus, their next of kin, neighborhood or community may be ostracized by the public at large.

In extreme situations, it may even lead to social unrest in communities.

Organization of BHERTs

In compliance with related laws and DILG issuances, all Punong Barangays are directed to organize their respective BHERT based on the following:

Population requirement - A minimum of one (1) BHERT shall be organized in every five thousand population (1:5,000 ratio).

Composition of BHERTs

The Punong Barangay shall appoint the members of BHERT which shall be composed of the following:

An Executive Officer
A Barangay Tanod
Two (2) Barangay Health Workers, one (1) of who is preferably a nurse or midwife.

Functions of the BHERTs

With or without the list of arrivals from the Mayor supposed to be given by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), conduct visits in the home of every arriving person from a coronavirus affected country;
Immediately list down the person(s) the arriving resident(s) came in contact with prior to his/her arrival in his/her residence;
Require the arriving resident(s) to check and record temperature daily, in the morning and in the afternoon, for the duration of the 14-day home confinement period. Advise the arriving resident(s) to watch out for any other systems of Coronavirus like cough, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath;
Check on the condition of the arriving resident(s) daily from a distance of more than one (1) meter. In checking, always wear N95 or surgical mask;
If symptoms are observed, immediately isolate and confine the arriving resident, now a coronavirus suspect, to a room away from the members of the household prior to his immediate transport to a DOH-designated coronavirus-referral center or hospital for further examination and treatment. Require the coronavirus suspect to wear N95 or surgical mask. Place the rest of the household also under 14-day home confinement. Repeat the process for them, including contact tracing. If no signs manifest, report to the City or Municipal Health officer for lifting of home confinement;
If no symptoms are observed after the 14-day home confinement, report the matter to the City or Municipal Health Officer for lifting of home confinement; and
Report to the Punong Barangay on measures or actions taken per arriving resident.

Advisory dated January 8, 2024

IN RELATION TO THE ISSUED MC NO. 2022-046 DATED APRIL 18, 2022, SUBMISSION OF THE RELATED MONITORING REPORTS/DATA WILL RESUME AS THERE IS A NEED TO ENSURE THE READINESS OF THE BARANGAYS IN CASE THERE IS A SURGE OF RELATED INFECTIOUS DISEASE/S IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCALITY.

IN THIS REGARD, ALL PUNONG BARANGAYS ARE DIRECTED/REMINDED TO PERFORM THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS STIPULATED IN THE SAID MC AND SUBMIT ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT TO THE DILG CITY/MUNICIPAL FIELD OFFICE ON OR BEFORE MAY 15, 2024.

FURTHER, THE C/MLGOOS ARE DIRECTED TO COMPLY WITH THE ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT ON THE COMPLIANCE OF THE BARANGAYS WITH THIS CIRCULAR, WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED THRU BBS ENTITLED: “Report on Barangay Compliance on MC No. 2022-046,” ON OR BEFORE JUNE 15, 2024.